Ding, dong, ding, dong, tick, tick, tick, the grandfather’s clock on the first floor took cadence. In the night, sounds get magnified and all could be heard even from this desolated, coldness. The darkness and the hiss of the machine near me. 

She left the door open. It is a test. I should try and run. I should get out. I should move towards the door and leave this place. So many should, that I must think it again. But she might be on top of the stairs. I heard her walk up, leave the door open, and walk away. But what if she is hiding? 

The sounds was loud, my heart 

The night only made bright by the moon light that enters through my window. A mouse is rummaging or moving in a corner. I can see it. She released my arms before she left, and she said nothing. She looked at me. I could see sweat on the forehead and over her lip. Her hands were trembling, and she kept looking back. Unlike the many times she came to me with my daily water and pieces of meat, this time she was dressed. She was alone. He wasn’t with her. He comes, counts and she let go of the incessant belt. He counts and she swings the belt. She is done and he slaps my face. I must cry. Tears and the get dry on my face.

Tonight, she came alone. She had no shoes; her hair was loose. 

The sound became louder, the ring in my ears.

Ding, dong, ding, dong, another hour and I can’t move, But I must move. What if he is up there waiting for me? I must move. She released my arms and legs so I must move. If he is waiting with her and the belt, at least I would see the clock that makes that demonic sound that keeps telling me the time. More sounds, a crick and a crack, it’s the wind and a branch. My hands are shaking, my body is shaking. I am going to get it. He is going to let me feel his wrath. 

The sound turned at its loudest, I could only hear my thoughts.

No, I must know, if he is out there. I left my corner. I left that putrid smell of shit and urine, of mold and old books. I am walking on trembling legs caked with blood of the many times they visited me with the belt. I am taking one step and the another.

Thum, thump; thum, thump, I walk at the rhythm of the thump. Darkness, a kitchen, and another opened door. She is sitting on a chair. Thum, thump; thum, thump; mush faster. Ding, dong, ding, dong, another hour. I want to see that damn clock. The sounds of steps from stairs above. 

“Bitch, where are you?”

Her eyes wide opened, the light from the moon shining through a window. I can see her red hair. Tears like a veil flowing, she smiled at me, and points at the door.

“Run, ” she said in a voice so horsed it broke my heart. Steps coming down the stairs. Splak, a base fell on the floor. Steps getting closer.

“Run, now” she said.

I turned, ran out. The door closed behind me. I ran and ran. Thum, Thump; Thum, Thump, I heard the sound of my heart. I ran and the moon followed me. I ran through a corn field. Slash, slash, the corned moved with me. I ran until I found a road and I ran some more. I fell on the road. A car, lights blinded me. He found me. No!